DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Saturday, November 25, 1916
Add to My HeroesJohn Henry Wiggins
Deputy Sheriff John Wiggins was shot and killed while searching for a man who had just committed a murder in Wauchula.
He had been notified of the murder, that occurred near the Petiwate Turpentine Still, and positioned himself at a bridge on the roadway leading from the facility. The murder suspect approached the bridge a short time later. As Deputy Wiggins ordered him to stop the man opened fire, striking Deputy Wiggins in the face.
Deputy Wiggins was taken to Tampa for treatment but died near Lakeland before arriving at the hospital.
The subject who murdered him was arrested and charged with his murder. The conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court. He was then tried for the original murder, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed by hanging on August 16th, 1918.
Deputy Wiggins was one one of three triplets, and was survived by his sister and brother.
Bio
- Age 33
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Shotgun
- Offender Not available
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsRest in peace Deputy Sheriff Wiggins.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
February 28, 2019
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024